Family Christmas Party

I Love our little Family Party.  It's so fun to see the excitement of each family member.  This is the time that our kids exchange gifts with each other.  We rotate each year so that every kid always has someone different to exchange with each year.  The grands also exchange gifts with each other. It is fun watching them exchange.  It is so obvious the love they share with each other.  I hope it will always be this way.  We also give our gifts to the grands and married kids.  I like giving the grands a new Christmas book each year and then they get their traditional cereal.  I actually think they look forward to the cereal....some of them tell me what their favorite is. ☺

 This year we didn't decorate Gingerbread Houses....we were cutting back and so I didn't pick any up.  Instead we decorated sugar cookies.  The kids had a great time and did a good job.  I think we might do this again next year.

 I love my family and love the time that we spend together.  We missed Ivy this year which always stinks. (she was in Disneyland with her dad and his family)  I love Christmas and the Spirit of Jesus that is felt throughout the season.  I love talking about Jesus and discussing His birth.  I love all the beautiful music that makes you feel good.  I love the lights and presents and Santa.  Everything about Christmas is symbolic and wonderful.  This time of the Year really is the Best time of the Year!

Happy Birthday Carla

Before Carla and I went to lunch to celebrate her birthday I bowled for another Carla.  I did something that I have only come close to before.  I had a clean game...that means I didn't leave a frame open...I marked in every frame.  The gals I was bowling with thought I had done it the 2nd game but when I looked close I noticed I didn't mark in the 6th frame.  I still got a 191 which means most of the marks were spares.  In the 3rd game I didn't leave any open frames and ended with a 197 also mostly spares.  However I even picked up a 5-10 split with the coaching of Sylvia.  I don't know how her logic works but it does and did.  That's the second time I have picked up that split and she had coached me the other time also.  Now if I can just remember...move my toe 2 1/2 boards towards the 10 pin and throw my ball in the same spot.  Crazy that by doing that the ball moved to the left which is the opposite way that I moved.  Awesome though.....I was so excited!

Carla is so sweet and kind.  When I text her to see if I could take her to lunch she text me back saying her and her dogs (5 of them)were doing the Happy Dance.  How cute is that?  I think she was excited! Carla has a big heart ♥ and is so thoughtful.  I love this girl and she truly has helped me to be a better person.  I'm just one happy and very blessed girl!

Celebration of Dave

What a hard week.  It's hard losing a best friend. Our family loves Dave and his family.  We have shared so many fun times with them.  Today Dave's twin sister Debbie, his son Davy, and Larry all spoke about Dave at his funeral.  It was so fun to hear about him in different aspects of his life.  Larry took the most time because he was last and got to take up the rest of the times....I'm glad he didn't have to cut his talk short...even though he shortened it considerably.  I think Larry could have gone on for another hour or more....we have shared so many good times with Dave and Vicki.  We still plan on spending time with Vicki and the family.  New Years Eve is planned and we look forward to playing with them and ending one year and starting a new one together.

I was so glad that all our kids were able to take off work and school to make it.  I know Dave meant the world to all of them as well.  He had a way of always making you feel good.  When he spoke to you he listened and was genuinely interested.  What a great example to us all!  Our lives are better because of our association with the Jones Family.♥♥♥

Book Club Christmas Party

 I think the Christmas Party with my book club is always so much fun!  We exchange "white elephants" and there is always something given that makes us all laugh.  This year it was the gift Shanna got....an extra pair of "boobies".  Oh the things you could do with them.  She tried a few and I laughed my guts out!  You could use them for ear muffs, or ear rings, or bunny ears, or elbow or need pads, or instant bum lift (I helped her out with that one), or book ends or.........(many ideas)  It was especially funny since it was Shanna who is the most reserved of our group.  She wasn't even shy about having a picture taken with them. hahaha

I liked the gift I got and plan on being a little creative after Dave's funeral is over. (wink)

We enjoyed a potluck breakfast and then visited and laughed for a few hours.  Shanna hates when we all leave early and was proud of us for spending 3 hours together.  I wouldn't have left but needed to get some vinyl for the pictures I'm making for the Jones family.  It was fun....I love my book club.  It was great that Suzie was able to join us. (she works a few jobs now)  For the next few months we might only have three of us because Loretta is leaving for her mission at the end of the month.  Before we know it though we will all be back together....the older I get the faster the years go!

I love the Holidays and All the Fun Parties and Get Togethers that happen because of them.

More Girl Time

A week or so ago I had invited Kellie to join some of us girls for breakfast.  She seemed so pleased but wasn't able to make it.  I really believe she liked the invite most and so I kept in touch with her.  (Kellie lived by me when we were both really little and I have always loved her and her family)  She told me she was feeling depressed and sad because her and her hubby would be moving to St George in January for a few months...which means away from her kids and grands.  I asked her if she would like to get together and she jumped on the idea.  I love this gal!  We planned a lunch date and then I let Kathy and Jodi know too and they were both able to make it!  Nice Surprise!  It was so fun....it's always so fun getting together with friends.

Eclipse Concert

Tonight we took went to the Eclipse Christmas Concert.  I am so glad I bought tickets a while back. This was a good concert to go to.  I love Eclipse.  They are good men with good standards and they sing so well....no band...just their voices!  I love Christmas Concerts because they are always good. Christmas music just calms the soul and makes me feel good all over. Isn't it cool the effect music has on us?  That is why it's so important to listen to only good music...it really does speak to our soul.

It was fun taking Kimleighel and Jared and they both loved the concert too.  We ran into the Moyes family which was really nice.  The group before Eclipse was a young group of boys called Beyond Five.  My kids really enjoyed them....they were good!  It was a fun evening.  Funny...how it's possible to still enjoy life when your heart is broke.

Merry Christmas Sista

The party was at my house....I had to carry on.  I felt guilty because I had just learned that Dave had passed on.  A piece of my heart was broke...I was in shock.  I realize that the party being at my house wasn't a coincident.  Carla was planning on hosting and things came up so that she couldn't.  We talked about meeting at Rainbow Gardens and I mentioned I could do it here if the others wanted.  That idea was jumped on right away.  I truly believe Heavenly Father helped that to all happen.  He knew it was Dave's time to return to Him...he knew I would be sad and would need a distraction.  He sent me my family and friends.  I had Parker and Mya and TJ came over with Zaden.  Poor TJ was the one I leaned on for comfort.  He immediately called Trichelle to come and be with me.  Trichelle ended up taking over my responsibilities of Mya and Parker.  Larry was planning on helping me with them during the party but he was needed at the Jones home.  I was so glad he had the day off so that he could be there for them.  I know he was a comfort to Vicki and her kids as they were to him. I am so thankful that Trichelle and TJ were here and that my friends were on their way.  I truly needed the distraction!

I learned that life continues and that even though sad things happen we still need to be happy and enjoy our life and the moments we have.  I know I would have been miserable and depressed if I hadn't had my "sista's" coming.  I love them and truly know that they are Heavenly Father's gift to me.  I am happier than I have ever been and I have always been a happy gal.  I feel my saviors love through my family and friends.

We did have a great time.  We ate and laughed and got crazy.  Our tropical theme turned out wonderful and fun.  Thank goodness I have connections....my house looked festive and felt that way too.  We exchanged gifts which is always fun...however I think the best gift is having each other.  It's true....our loved ones are the best gifts!  God really does love us so much!

I learned a few things today.  I learned that the more you love someone and share your life with them the more it hurts when they pass on.  I learned that Heavenly Father is always blessing us and preparing the way for us.  I don't think I use to recognize His hand so much...I do now.  I learned that in spite of our sadness it is okay to be happy and have fun.  Our loved ones who pass on want us to live and be happy.  I learned that life is fragile and change in an instant but that it is good!  I learned (I really already knew this) that laughter is good medicine and heals a broken heart.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!